Donations assist two charities
"Each charity received a share of blankets, clothing of various sizes and accessories."
“The request to help donate blankets, warm clothes and winter accessories was answered with overwhelming support.”
This statement was made by Miss Charmain Qofela, the marketing assistant from the Greenstone Shopping Centre in response to people’s responses to the centre’s winter collection.
The community and stores in the centre donated well over 2 700 items, between April 14 and May 31.
The project, now in its second year, is managed by collecting items donated by the public which are sorted, displayed and divided.
“Two children’s homes were selected from customer nominations, they were the Tshepang Care Centre in Vusimuzi Township in Tembisa and the Johannesburg Children’s Home in Observatory,” said Miss Qofela.
The Tshepang Care Centre, which is based in Vusumuzi informal settlement which falls under Tembisa, caters for 150 orphans and vulnerable children, aged between one month and 20 years.
While the centre is not a formal home, they have eight orphans and one vulnerable child living at the centre, while the rest of the children who live in Vusumuzi come to the centre for meals and day care.
They have six volunteer caretakers and they assist with preparing the food, guarding the children, helping them with their homework and keeping the centre clean.
Main services provided are food and clothing, a basic library facility, which also serves as a study room for their school work, and regular health checks provided by nurses from the local clinics.
The Johannesburg Children’s Home provides a safe refuge for 64 children, aged between three and 18, who have been found in need of care by the Children’s Court.
At the Johannesburg Children’s Home they start a new life, living in cottages of up to 10 children under the loving eyes of trained Child Care Workers.
They also have a Halfway House for older children, where they can live independently, yet safely, until they are ready to take that final step into the world.
“Before moving to the Halfway House, children aged between 14 and 16 spend time in our Stepping Stones Cottage, which begins the process of learning to become self-sufficient.
“Each charity received a share of blankets, clothing of various sizes and accessories” said Miss Qofela.
Both Miss Sarah Sibigu from the Tshepang Care Centre and Miss Fiona Duke from the Johannesburg Children’s Home, said it was a good initiative.
